Death
is a transition that many people fear. Will it hurt, will it be swift or
included a long spell of pain and suffering? We despise the idea of leaving our
loved ones, especially those not yet walking with our Lord.
Life
on this earth includes the beauties of nature and the fulfillment we receive
from the hand of the Lord. It also includes ministries to our friends,
relatives, associates and neighbors. However, this world is not our true home (Hebrews
13:14).
Living
means more opportunities to serve the Lord on earth; yet, dying gives us the
joyful opportunity to live in an immortal body in the physical presence of our
Lord (Philippians 2:21-24).
This
earthly "tent" in which we now abide is folded up in death, and we
receive a new body, made for us by God Himself. We grow weary from the pain in
our mortal body as it ages, but in Heaven the mortal is replaced by everlasting
life (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).
Every
moment spent in this earthly body is time away from our eternal Home with
Jesus. We have nothing to fear in death, knowing that our last breath on earth
is immediately followed by our first breath in Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:6-9).
In
death, as in life, we follow the Lord's will for us (Romans 14:7-9). God's Spirit
within us, who raised Jesus from the dead, will raise us up as well (Romans
8:11). He will wipe away all of our tears and fears forever (Isaiah 25:8).
Prayer:
Father
God, we give thanks to You, because You are such a good, good Father. Your
loving devotion to us endures forever (Psalm 118:1). Even if we sow with tears,
we will always reap with excited shouts of joy (Psalm 126:5). You keep our
tears in a bottle and record the cause of them in Your book (Psalm 56:8-11).
Vengeance is Yours, and You will repay those who hurt us (Romans 12:19).
In
Your presence is fullness of joy, and at Your right hand are pleasures
forevermore (Psalm 16:11, 126:5-6). Your loving kindness is excellent and
better than life itself, and we find our hope in the shadow of Your wings
(Psalm 36:7-9, 63:3). You are our defense and our refuge in our times of
trouble on this earth, but we look forward to spending eternity with You in
Heaven (Psalm 59:16).
Thought
for the Day:
There
is a season for every transition in our life, and God has a purpose for us in
each one of them; therefore, we can set our mind on spiritual aspects,
realizing that we already died and are hidden with Christ in God, and eventually
and inevitably, we shall spend eternity with Him in glory.
-
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2; Colossians 3:2-4
